Follower for vertical files



May 23, 1939. C WOLTERS 2,159,415

FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES Filed April 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1939. c, F. WOLTERS FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES Filed April 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm Carl Ell 0120727,

Patented May 23, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES Carl F. Wolters, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Reinington Rand vInc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application April 9, 1936, Serial No. 73,417 12 Claims. (01. 129-29) This invention relates to improvements in fol-' The inventionfurther comprehends the provi-' sion of a card tray with guides on the side walls,

slidably mounting a follower supporting structure which carries a movable compressor plate and a lever operated mechanism for locking the follower structure against movement in the guide,

the lever of said mechanism being also constructed to operate the compressor plate.

A tray construction is provided by the invention for conveniently housin'gthe cards and supporting the follower structure provided 'witlr means to cooperate with the movable follower construction so that it may be operated efliciently in the tray and also with the provision of vmeans to make the trayv particularly useful for the fil ingof accounting machine cards. For-this purpose the tray is provided with special handle constructions so that it may be transported from place to place in a convenient manner.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front end portion of a card index tray constructed in accordance with this invention showing the follower in card compressing position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line '3-3 of Fig. 1, the parts being shown in released position, so the follower may be adjusted in the tray.

Fig. 3 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in operative position as in Fig. 1, with the follower locked in the tray and the compressor plate in card compressingposition.

Fig. 4 is a'vertical cross section taken online 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section similar to Fig.

4 taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the parts in operative position to compress the cards in the tray.

Fig. 6 shows the parts forming the follower 50 supporting structure, compressor plate and lever operating mechanism disassembled and inperspectiv'e.

The tray has a front wall I formed of sheet metal provided with a rearwardly directed flange 55 -2 on the bottom edge and an inwardly and down wardlyexten'ding flange portion 3 on the upper edge. The sides of front wall I are bent rear-- wardly to provide attaching flanges 4 and 5 for securing the front wall to the side members 6 of the tray.

Two side members are. provided, and are formed of sheet metal to provide side wall portions 1 formed'at the upper edges with outwardly directed flanges 8 terminating in verticallyextending sections 9 offset outwardly from Sidei pOItiODS' l in spaced parallel relation. The sections 9 are formed with lateral flanges forming the upper side edges .II'I of the tray having depending flange portions II at the inner edges.

Flanges 8, vertically projecting portions 9, upper edge portions I0 and flanges II form guide channels for slidably and adjustably supporting the follower construction in the tray in a manner that will be hereinafter described.

The lower edges of side wall portions I are formed with'inwardly extending bottom sections I2fthat have the inner. edge portions provided with return bends. The inner edge portions of the bottom sections I2 are arranged in spaced parallelrelation at opposite sides of the center of the tray to leave a central bottom opening in the tray indicated at I3 to provide a convenient means for projecting the cards upwardly out of the tray by means of any suitable instrument or by manual engagement with the bottoms of the cards.v A rear wall, not shown, is provided in the tray that is similar in construction to the front wall I.

A channel shaped member I4 formed of sheet metal is mounted against the inner face of front wall I near the top and extends transversely between'the sides I. An inner front plate I5 is mounted in spaced parallelrelation to front wall I along the inner edge of channel member I4 as label holder I1 is mounted in'the central por-' tion between the sides on flange I6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. At opposite ends of the label holderflange I6 and channel member I4 are formed with vertically aligned openings to receive handle I8 of U-shaped construction having vertically extending legs I 9 slidably engaged in said openings.

The lower ends of legs I 9 of the handle are provided with heads after they are inserted through the openings in flange l6 and channel member l4 that will thereafter prevent their removal from the channel member and will act in cooperation with the channel member when the handle is 'drawn upwardly through the openings to provide a convenient carrying handle for the tray.

Ratchet bars 20 are securely mounted in the upper outer corners of the channels formed in the side walls of the tray with the outer side faces engaged with the inner surfaces of vertically extending sections 9 and the upper edges engaged with the under faces of upper edge forming portions in. The lower edges of these ratchet bars 20 are formed with ratchet teeth indicated at 2|. These bars extend throughout the length of the side walls of the tray and serve in cooperation with mechanism carried by the follower, to be described, for retaining the follower in adjusted position.

The follower has a pair of arm members 22 of angular formation. These arm members have guide sections 23 thereof arranged in spaced parallel relation and slidably engaged in the channels formed in the side walls of the tray. ,Projections 24 on the upper edges of guide sections 23 slidably engage respectively between ratchet bars 26 and flanges II of the tray, as shown in Figs.

' "2 and 3, while the lower edges of guide sections upper edge in the formation of the return bend portion 21. I

The lower edge of the return bend portion 21 is formediwith laterally and rearwardly directed flanges 28 at opposite sides of supporting plate 26 leaving a central opening between the inner edges of the flanges'as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Below these flanges the supporting plate is formed with a pair of guide projections 29 while the lower edge of supporting plate'26 is recessed as indicated'at 30. Openings 3| are formed at opposite sides of the central portion of return bent flange 21 and threaded openings are formed in aligned relation with the openings 3 l' in support- 'plate 26 and flange 21.

ing plate 26.

Supporting arms 25 are formed with openings 32 that align with openings 3| in the assembled relation of the arm members 22 with supporting Assembly screws 33 are engaged through openings 3| and threaded into the supporting plate 26 to rigidly assemble arm members 22 and supporting plate-26 together.

These assembly screws have the heads thereof spacedrearwardly from the return bent flange 21 and are provided with cylindrical guide portions 34 for guiding follower locking bar 35 provided with vertical slots 36 to receive guide portions 34. The opposite ends of locking bar 315 are formed with lateral extensions 31 provided with ratchet teeth 38. .When the bar 35 is assembled on screws 33 as illustrated the lateral extensions 31 extend into the channels formed in the side walls of the tray below ratchet bars 20 so that ratchet teeth 38 thereon will cooperate with ratchet teeth 2! on bars 29 when looking bar 35 is moved upwardly to engage the teeth with one another.

The central portion of locking bar 35 is provided with an extension 39 formed with opening 40 to receive pivot bolt 4| for pivotally mounting looking lever 42 thereon. The extension 39 on looking bar 35 is guided by guide projections 29 on supporting plate 26 and the lower end portion of extension 39 is offset forwardly from the plane of locking bar 35 so that it will slidably engage the rear face of supporting plate 26 as clearly shown in the drawings. 1

Locking lever 42 is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly offset extension providing a handle 43 by which the lever is operated in a manner that will be presently described,

At the lower side edges-of supporting plate 26 are formed rearwardly extending ears 44. A compressor plate 45 is arranged in the tray in front of supporting plate 26and has a rearwardly extending flange 46 on the lower edge extending to the rear of supporting plate 26 below the lower edge thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 5, for example. Studs 46' are provided on flange 46 at opposite sides adjacent plate 45. Side flanges 41 are also provided on the sides of plate 45 that extend rearwardly and are joined at the lower ends with flange 46. These flanges 41 are arranged to extend adjacent the outer sides of ears 44 on supporting plate 26 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Pivot pins 48 are inserted through aligned openings in the rear ends of ears 44 and flanges 41, for pivotally mounting compressor plate 45 on the supporting plate 26 in a vertical plane that is spaced rearwardly from the position of locking lever 42 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Flange 46 of compressor plate 45 is formed with a pair of upwardly extending ears 49 adjacent opposite ends, and the lower ends of springs 50 are secured thereto having the'upper ends extending through slots 5| formed in the return bend por tion 21 and flanges 28 of the supporting plate structure and secured to locking bar 35 by inserting the ends of the springs through openings 52 in said bar. These springs normally operate to draw bar 35 downwardly and to move follower plate 45 upwardly about its pivot so that the follower plate will be moved toward the front face of supporting plate 26 into the position shown in Fig. 4.

Lever 42 has an arm 53 projecting from the opposite side of pivot pin 4| from operating handle 43. This arm 53 carries a roller 54 having its periphery projecting below the end of the arm for rolling engagement with the upper surface of flange 46 of compressor plate 45. Recess 30 in supporting plate 26 provides space for the free swinging movement of this arm 53 and its roller in operation. This operating lever 42 has handle 43 projecting between the inner edges of flanges 28 so that the upper end is above flanges 28 and the inner edges of the flanges serve to limit movement of the lever in opposite directions.

It was just pointed out that springs 50 normally operate to move compressor plate 45 toward supporting plate 26 and also to draw or slide locking bar 35 downwardly. This serves to disengage ratchet teeth 38 on extensions 31 from the ratchet teeth on ratchet bars 20 and hold the parts in a position so that the follower maybe slidably moved back and forth in the tray sup-ported and guided by arm members 22, guide sections 23 efficiently guiding the movement offlthe follower structure in its adjustment in the tray. v

The parts assume the position described above with operating lever 42 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Handle 43 in the released position of operating lever 42 engages against the end of flange 28 to the right side of the tray as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 illustrates operating lever 42 with its parts in the operative position with the handle extending toward the left of the tray and engaged with the end of flange 28 to the left-hand side of the tray as viewed in Fig. 3. In this position it will be noted that roller 54 has engaged the upper surface of flange 46 on compressor plate 45 and through the action of arm 53 it has moved the compressor plate structure, about its pivot mounting on supporting plate 26 so that flange 46 has been moved downwardly to engage studs 46 with the bottom |2 of the tray and plate 45 moved forwardly in the tray as shown in Fig. 5, away from supporting plate 26 for the purpose of compressing the cardsin the tray. In this position, arm 53 of lever 42 has moved across a vertical plane through the axis of pivot pin 4| or past what may be termed a-dead center position so that the tendency of spring 53 to raise compressor plate 45 about its pivot mounting serves to hold the operating lever in the position shown in Fig. 8 in operative positionv to compress the cards in the tray. With this operation of the compressor plate to compress the cards, the operation of the lever also serves through pivot pin 4| and extension 39 to slide lock bar 35 upwardly for engaging ratchet teeth 38 with ratchet teeth 2|. In so doing the lock bar 35 looks the follower construction against adjustment in the channels of the tray, thereby rendering the operation of the compressor plate effective to compress the cards- As soon as handle 43 of operating lever 42 is moved to the position of Fig. 2, springs 50 will follow this operation by moving compressor plate 45 about its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 4 while clamping bar 35 will be moved downwardly on screws 33 to the position shown in Fig. 4 for disengaging ratchet teeth 38 from ratchet teeth 2|.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that screws 33 provide assembling and guiding means for mounting the supporting arms on the supporting plate and the locking bar and operating lever in their operative positions thereon. It is, therefore, only necessary to mount the operating lever on the extension 39 and to assemble the compressor-plate structure on pivot 43, connecting the springs 50 to their proper anchorage whereupon the complete construction I is assembled It will also .be apparent that am members 22 may be easily assembled in the tray and the other parts connected thereto for quickly and conveniently mounting the follower structure for operation in the tray, thereby providing a tray and follower structure which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and also eflicient ator with a suitable handlethat may beprovided on the rear end of the tray;for transporting the tray of cards from place to place in a convenient manner. The handle assumes the position shown in Fig. 5 when not in use so that the tray may be conveniently stored in a suitable cabinet.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a card tray having guides on opposite sides, a follower construction comprising a support slidable on said guides, a compressor plate movably mounted on said support. a lock bar movable on said support for engaging said tray to lock said support against sliding movement in the tray, an operating lever manually operable to move said lock bar into locking position and simultaneously operate said compressor plate for compressing cards in said tray, and means normally operative to maintain said lock bar and compressor plate in inoperative position.

2. In a tray for housing vertical cards having guides on opposite sides thereof, a follower comprising a support slidable on said guides and extending transversely of said tray, a locking bar slidably mounted on said support for engaging opposite sides of said tray to lock said support against adjustment in the tray, a compressor plate movably mounted on said support, a lever mounted on said lock bar manually operable to engage and operate said compressor plate and to simultaneously operate said lock bar to move said lock bar into locking position and move said compressor plate to compress cards in said tray.

3. In a card filing tray having guiding means on opposite sides thereof, a follower comprising a support plate extending transversely in said tray having guide sections slidably mounted on said guiding means, a compressor plate pivotally mounted on said support plate and operable in pivotal movement away from said support plate to compress cards in said tray, a locking bar slidably mounted on said support plate having means for engaging said tray and locking said support plate against movement on said guides, and a manually operable lever operable in one direction for operating said compressor plate and said locking bar to move said locking bar into locking position and to move said compressor plate simultaneously to compress cards in said tray, said lever being operable in an opposite direction to release said compressor plate from its compressing position and to release said locking bar to provide for sliding movement of said support plate and said tray for the adjustment of said follower.

4. In a card filing tray having guiding means on opposite sides thereof, a follower comprising a support plate extending transversely in said tray'having guide sections slidably mounted in said guiding means, a compressor plate piotally mounted on said support plate and operable in pivotal movement away from said support plate to compress cards in said tray, a locking bar slidably mounted on said support plate having means for engaging said tray to lock said support plate against movement in said guiding means, a manually operable lever operable in one direction for operating said compressor plate and said locking bar to move said locking bar into locking position and to move said compressor plate simultaneously to compress the cards in said tray, said lever being operable in an opposite direction to release said compressor plate from its compressing position and to release said locking bar to provide for sliding movement of said support plate in said tray for the adjustment of said follower, and resilient means connecting said lock bar and compressor plate normally operative to move said bar and plate into inoperative positions.

5. A card file, comprising a tray having side walls formed with guide channels, ratchet bars secured within said guide channels, a follower comprising a support extending transversely of said tray having means on opposite ends slidably engaged in said channels for slidably mounting said support in said tray, a compressor plate movably mounted on said support, a locking mechanism having ratchet means for engaging the ratchet teeth on said ratchet bar for locking said follower against adjustment in said tray, and a single operating means for moving said locking mechanism and compressor plate into operative position.

6. In a card file having a tray provided with guides on opposite sides, a follower comprising a supporting plate formed of sheet metal having rearwardly extending, ears on the lower side edges thereof, arm members engaged with the upper portion of said plate at opposite sides and slidably mounted in'said guides, a locking bar slidably mounted on said supporting plate, securing means for mounting said arm members and lock bar in assembled relation on said supporting plate, a compressor plate mounted in front of said supporting plate and having rearwardly extending flanges on the side edges extending to the rear of said supporting plate past the side edges thereof, and in adjacent relation to said ears, pivot means joining the rear ends of said flanges and ears for pivotally mounting said compressor plate on said supporting plate, and an operating lever pivotally mounted on said lock bar having means for engaging said compressor plate and operable in the movement of said lever in one direction to engage and move said compressor plate into card compressing position and move and operate said lock bar into follower locking position.

'7. In a card file having a tray formed with guides in the side Walls, a follower comprising a support plate extending transversely between the side Walls in said tray, arm members having extensions engaged with said support plate, a spaced flange portion on the upper edge of said support plate receiving said extensions between the body of said support plate and said flange portion,- said arm members having guide sections slidably engaged in the guides on said tray, a lock bar slidably mounted on the face of said flange portion of said support plate, common means for mounting said arm members and lock bar in assembled relation on said support plate, rearwardly extending ears on the side edges of said support plate, a compressor plate in front of said support plate having rearwardly extending flanges projecting beyond the side edges of said support plate and pivotally connected at the rear ends to the rear ends of said ears, resilient means connecting the lower portion of said compressor plate to said lock bar, said lock bar having means at opposite ends for engaging said tray to lock said support plate against sliding movement in said guides, and a lever pivotally'mo-unted on said lock bar having means for engaging said compressor plate operable in one position of said lever to move said compressor plate into card compressing position in said tray and to move said lock bar into follower locking position, said lever being movable to a releasing position and-said resilient means normally moving said lock bar and said follower plate to inoperative positions in'the releasing position of said lever.

8. In a card tray having a bottom and side walls with said side walls provided with guideways, a supporting plate extending transversely between said side walls and having guide members slidable in said guideways, a locking bar slidably mounted on said supporting plate having means for engaging said tray and locking said supporting plate against movement in said guides,

a compressor plate mounted on said supporting plate and movable relative thereto for operation to engage and compress the cards in said tray, and manually operable means for moving and retaining said locking bar in looking position, and for moving said supporting plate to card compressing position.

9. A card file, comprising a tray having side walls provided with guideways, a support extending transversely of said tray having means on opposite ends slidably engaged with said guideways for slidably mounting said support in said tray, a compressor plate movably mounted on said support, and manually operable means for engaging said tray and locking said support against sliding movement in said tray and moving said compressor plate into card compressing position.

10. A card file, comp-rising a tray having side walls provided with longitudinal guideways, a support extending transversely of said tray having members at opposite ends slidably engaged on said guideways for mounting said support in said tray for longitudinal movement therein between the front and rear ends of the tray, 2. compressor plate mounted in front of said support and movable toward and away from said support and longitudinally of said tray for compressing cards therein during forward movement, and means for locking said support against sliding movement relative to the tray and moving and retaining said compressor in card compressing position.

11. A card file, comprising a tray having side walls provided with longitudinal guideways, a support extending transversely of said tray having end members at opposite ends slidably engaged on said guideways for mounting said support in said tray for longitudinal movement therein between the front and rear ends of the tray, a compressor plate mounted in front of said support and movable toward and away from said support and longitudinally of said tray for compressing cards therein during forward movement, and means having manually operated parts movable transversely relative to said tray for look ing said support against sliding movement in the tray and for moving said compressor plate forwardly in said tray for compressing cards there- 12. A card file, comprising a tray having side walls provided with guideways, a support extending transversely of said tray having means on opposite ends slidably engaged with said guideways for slidably mounting said support in said tray, a compressor plate mounted on said support for forward and backward movement in said tray for compressing cards therein in forward movement, a locking member slidable on said support and movable into one position for locking said support against movement in said tray, and a manually operable lever movable in a plane parallel to said support and transversely of said tray for operating said locking member and said compressor plate. 

